High School Notebook: Tri-Valley League a tough test

The TVL is deep in quality boys soccer teams, a trait not lacking again this season.

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Sep. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 29, 2013 at 8:24 PM

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Sep. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 29, 2013 at 8:24 PM

» Social News

As college football fans have clamored for a playoff of over a dozen teams for the last decade, an argument has been made — usually by those below the Mason-Dixon line — that a 16-team playoff would turn into an SEC Invitational.

Those who take their pride in the quality of their grits and the strength of the state football team believe the Final Four would turn into Alabama vs. Georgia and LSU vs. Florida. The only team an SEC team would lose to would be an SEC team.

Or in other words, what happened to the Tri-Valley League in last year's boys soccer postseason.

Six TVL teams entered the Division 2 South sectional — Ashland, Holliston, Medfield, Medway, Norton and Westwood. Medway took the title, and the rest got the boot from a TVL compatriot.

In the first round, Norton lost to Medway and Westwood fell to Medfield. The quarterfinals had Ashland getting knocked out by Medfield, and Holliston had its season ended by the Warriors one round later. The all-TVL final of Medfield and Medway went to the Mustangs on penalty kicks.

Add that to Dover-Sherborn winning the Division 3 South title, and the TVL had reason to crow last November.

"It really showed how good we really are," Holliston coach Jay Dupuis said. "We don’t play outside the league during the year. So no one knows how good we are."

It went to show how deep the TVL is in quality teams, a trait not lacking again this season.

Defending league champion Medway — which lost to Groton-Dunstable in the state championship game last year — is in first place with 20 points at 6-0-2, just ahead of Holliston's 19 points (6-1-1). The Mustangs had their hands full with the Panthers on Friday, needing a late goal from senior striker Sean Dunne to take a 2-2 tie on their home field.

Dunne and teammate Justin Kaplan are two of the best strikers in the league.

The league had been controlled for years by Medfield and D-S, which won the Division 3 state title in 2010. Now Medway and Holliston have risen to the top.

"The Tri-Valley League is one of the best leagues in the state," Mustangs coach Jeff Hallenbeck said. "Some of the teams are down, but others are better. It’s always changing."

Records aren't necessarily indicative of a team's quality. Hopkinton beat Westwood on Friday to reach a pedestrian 3-3-2 (2-3-2 in the league). But the Hillers showed their talent when they beat defending Division 2 state champion Groton-Dunstable earlier in the week.

"It’s super competitive," said Dupuis, whose team's offense is carried by Troy Waddell and Ryan Snow. "As I tell my kids every day, anyone can beat us. It’s not just coach-talk — it’s really true. Hopkinton doesn’t have a winning record at this moment, but they beat a champion in Groton-Dunstable the other day and they’re an outstanding team. Our league has just been amazing from top to bottom with a few exceptions."

Page 2 of 3 - Millis was one of those exceptions last season. The Mohawks were in their first year as a varsity program and won just one game. Losing scores piled up of 7-0, 6-0, 5-0.

There was no chance for the Mohawks to break in their cleats. The league kicked them around like a used ball. They realized a new commitment was needed in the offseason.

"I think last year was an eye-opener for some of the guys, even some of the veterans who had been playing in club leagues with the TVL guys," Millis coach Steve Bailen said. "I think one thing they realized is they may had some guys who played club, but all 11 guys on the field have to be at the same skill level and clicking."

Now Millis is competitive. The Mohawks are winless, but are staying with teams that a year ago tossed them aside. On Wednesday they lost 1-0 to Ashland. Players such as Griffin Sisk and Dan Denman have Millis looking respectful.

Bailen admits the building process is ahead of schedule.

"I think the way the guys have performed this season, it’s gone a lot faster," he said. "Nobody wants to walk off the field with a loss. But when I compare last year to this year, we’re in these games. We played against Westwood last year, they ended up taking 1 or 2 guys off. At one point it was 11 (players) to 10 or 9. This year we played Westwood and it was a fantastic game."

But it's a long way to go in the always-competitive TVL.

"Our kids have been training hard all year," Dupuis said. "We know everybody in the league’s doing the same thing. If you’re not doing everything you can, you’re not going to be successful."

Warriors to see the Monster

Fenway Park will open its gates to the skating crowd this winter for the third time. Getting the opportunity to skate at the lyric little bandbox will be the Lincoln-Sudbury boys hockey team, which will face off with Boston Latin on New Year's Eve at 10:15 a.m.

It'll be the first of a tripleheader of high school games that day. …

Milford's Nick Zacchilli and Franklin's Carmine Colace will be inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Nov. 2 as recognition of their lengthy coaching careers.

Their names will be placed in the State Chapter Gallery at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla.

The banquet will be held at the Framingham Sheraton Hotel on Nov. 2. ...

Milford High announced its new class for the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

The banquets and induction take place Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Myriad Ballroom in Mendon. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through athletic director Rich Piergustavo or hall co-chairman Nick Zacchilli, who can be reached at nicknacc851@gmail.com. All tickets must be purchased by Nov. 1.

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.